Parsha: Vayeitzei (2024)
There’s a powerful idea in the Parsha this week that can be a source of inspiration and resilience.
When Leah gave birth to her fourth son, she named him Yehudah (Judah), saying: “This time, I thank (“odeh”) G-d.” The Midrash comments that this was the first instance in all of history of someone thanking G-d.
This observation sounds strange to say the least!
Surely people had thanked G-d earlier. Noah thanked G-d after being saved from the flood. Abraham thanked G-d after being promised the land of Israel as an inheritance. Surely Leah herself would have thanked G-d for her first three children. What made this thanksgiving unique that it be considered as the first moment of gratitude?
We need to understand the context. Jacob loved Rachel and originally wanted to marry her. He worked for Lavan for 7 years to get her hand in marriage, but Lavan fooled him and gave him Leah, his older daughter, instead. Jacob was rightfully hurt, but commited to another 7 years of work for the permission to marry Rachel. He ends up being married to both.
Although Leah was Jacob’s first wife, she felt her inferiority.
Jacob’s primary love for Rachel was undeniable and real.
We sense her feelings when she names her children. The first was Reuven: “G-d has seen (“ra’ah”) my suffering.” The second, Shimon was named for “G-d has heard (“shama”) that I am hated.” She named her third Levi, because “Now my husband will stay (“yilaveh”) with me.” She clearly felt inferior and was desperate for her husband’s acceptance and love.
Against this backdrop we can appreciate the novelty of Leah’s thanksgiving. We generally offer thanks when we have gotten what we wanted. We are thankful when our yearnings are fulfilled. Everyone who had offered thanks to G-d had done so when they received a complete package of goodness.
But Leah’s deepest desire was still unfulfilled. She remained the secondary wife. And she still managed to be thankful.
Her situation hadn’t changed since the birth of her first 3 children, but her attitude had.
When Judah was born, Leah put aside the feelings of what she was missing and focused on what she had. Her life was far from perfect, but in that moment she had something profoundly joyous to be thankful for.
We can feel thankful for the good we have while acknowledging a perhaps challenging reality that remains. It isn’t easy to carry both emotions, but Leah teaches us that it is possible.
This is why we are called by the name “Jew” – or “yehudi” in Hebrew – is borrowed from Judah’s name.
In Jewish tradition, every day starts with a thanksgiving prayer: “Modeh ani lefanecha – Thank you G-d for restoring my soul for another day.” No matter what is happening in our lives, no matter how much blessing is yet to be realized, we find something to thank G-d for.
We’re not thankful for having everything, but grateful for everything we have.
When Leah gave birth to her fourth son, she named him Yehudah (Judah), saying: “This time, I thank (“odeh”) G-d.” The Midrash comments that this was the first instance in all of history of someone thanking G-d.
This observation sounds strange to say the least!
Surely people had thanked G-d earlier. Noah thanked G-d after being saved from the flood. Abraham thanked G-d after being promised the land of Israel as an inheritance. Surely Leah herself would have thanked G-d for her first three children. What made this thanksgiving unique that it be considered as the first moment of gratitude?
We need to understand the context. Jacob loved Rachel and originally wanted to marry her. He worked for Lavan for 7 years to get her hand in marriage, but Lavan fooled him and gave him Leah, his older daughter, instead. Jacob was rightfully hurt, but commited to another 7 years of work for the permission to marry Rachel. He ends up being married to both.
Although Leah was Jacob’s first wife, she felt her inferiority.
Jacob’s primary love for Rachel was undeniable and real.
We sense her feelings when she names her children. The first was Reuven: “G-d has seen (“ra’ah”) my suffering.” The second, Shimon was named for “G-d has heard (“shama”) that I am hated.” She named her third Levi, because “Now my husband will stay (“yilaveh”) with me.” She clearly felt inferior and was desperate for her husband’s acceptance and love.
Against this backdrop we can appreciate the novelty of Leah’s thanksgiving. We generally offer thanks when we have gotten what we wanted. We are thankful when our yearnings are fulfilled. Everyone who had offered thanks to G-d had done so when they received a complete package of goodness.
But Leah’s deepest desire was still unfulfilled. She remained the secondary wife. And she still managed to be thankful.
Her situation hadn’t changed since the birth of her first 3 children, but her attitude had.
When Judah was born, Leah put aside the feelings of what she was missing and focused on what she had. Her life was far from perfect, but in that moment she had something profoundly joyous to be thankful for.
We can feel thankful for the good we have while acknowledging a perhaps challenging reality that remains. It isn’t easy to carry both emotions, but Leah teaches us that it is possible.
This is why we are called by the name “Jew” – or “yehudi” in Hebrew – is borrowed from Judah’s name.
In Jewish tradition, every day starts with a thanksgiving prayer: “Modeh ani lefanecha – Thank you G-d for restoring my soul for another day.” No matter what is happening in our lives, no matter how much blessing is yet to be realized, we find something to thank G-d for.
We’re not thankful for having everything, but grateful for everything we have.